THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 425 



other philanthropic agency until such time as provision may be made for fur- 

 nishing an ample and safe supply of pasteurized and modified milk through 

 commercial channels under the direct supervision of the District health 

 department. 



In the judgment of the committee it is not practicable for the District gov- 

 ernment to undertake the management of such plant, which at all events could 

 not be done without special authority from Congress and an appropriation made 

 for the purpose. 



It occurs to the committee that the proposal of Mr. Straus offers a splendid 

 opportunity for the conduct of investigations under the Department of Agri- 

 culture or the Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service, with a view to 

 making a practical demonstration of the value of pasteurized and modified milk 

 as food for infants. The authoritative settlement of this question would be of 

 immense value not only to our community, but to the entire country. 



In the event that for any reason it is not possible to have the operations of 

 the Straus Laboratory continue, it is believed by the committee that existing 

 agencies, such as the Diet Kitchen, the Citizens' Relief Association, the Associ- 

 ated Charities, and the Instructive Visiting Nurse Society, should be encouraged 

 by the contribution of additional funds to continue the splendid work which is 

 now being done by them. The activities of these charitable agencies are being 

 exerted not only in directing and furnishing proper food for infant feeding 

 among the poorer classes, but also in disseminating information generally with 

 regard to the proper care of infants. It is recognized in this connection that 

 these agencies should exercise scrupulous care in restricting the distribution of 

 free infant food to such families as are not pecuniarily able to pay for it. The 

 milk dispensaries now in operation under existing auspices should be gener- 

 ously supported by the public in enlarging their existing stations, and in increas- 

 ing the number of depots from which milk may be dispensed. 



The committee is impressed with the great desirability of securing prompt 

 and adequate legislation, as recommended by the District Commissioners, for 

 providing a clean, pure, and wholesome milk supply for the Nation's capital. 

 Pending the enactment of such legislation, the committee strongly recommends 

 that the District authorities insist that the inmates of foundling asylums, hos- 

 pitals, and other charitable institutions, wholly or in part supported by public 

 funds, be supplied with milk coming within the classifications recommended 

 by the Washington milk conference appointed by the District Commissioners in 

 1907. For this purpose the health officer should be required, as a result of 

 inspection, to publish a list of dairies from which the milk supply is drawn, 

 giving the average rating of each dairy, the chemical composition, and the 

 bacterial content of the samples. It is understood that this information is 

 already in the possession of the health department, but provision is not made 

 at present for its publication. 



The committee avails itself of this opportunity to express its hearty approval 

 of the recommendation recently made by the health officer for the appointment 

 of a corps of six visiting nurses for the public schools, whose duty it shall be 

 to give instruction with regard to the physical well-being of the children in 

 their homes, and during the summer months to give special attention to the 

 prevention of infant mortality. 



Respectfully submitted. 



GEORGE M. STEBNBEKG, Chairman. 



APPENDIX AR. 



BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE BY THE UNITED STATES OF THE 

 GIFT OF THE NATHAN STRAUS PASTEURIZED-MILK LABORATORY. 



A BILL To authorize the acceptance by the United States of the gift of the Nathan 

 Straus Pasteurized Milk Laboratory. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 

 of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and 

 he is hereby, authorized and directed to accept from Nathan Straus, in behalf 

 of the United States, the Nathan Straus Pasteurized Milk Laboratory, estab- 

 lished by said Nathan Straus in May, nineteen hundred and ten, and since 



